Shloka 133
वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च
The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel
भारत! तदनन्तर गौतमीपुत्रने सुवर्णमय पंखवाले शत्रुनाशक आकाशचारी बाणोंको उस राक्षसपर चलाया ।। तद् बाणैररदितं यूथं रक्षसां पीनवक्षसाम् । सिंहैरिव बभौ मत्तं गजानामाकुलं कुलम्,उन बाणोंसे चौड़ी छातीवाले राक्षसरोंका वह समूह अत्यन्त पीड़ित हो सिंहोंद्वारा व्याकुल किये गये मतवाले हाथियोंके झुंडके समान प्रतीत होने लगा
tad bāṇair arditaṃ yūthaṃ rākṣasāṃ pīnavakṣasām | siṃhair iva babhau mattaṃ gajānām ākulaṃ kulam ||
Then, struck and harried by those arrows, the band of broad-chested rākṣasas appeared like a herd of rut-maddened elephants thrown into confusion by lions—an image of brute force shaken by a sharper, disciplined power amid the chaos of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how unrestrained brute strength (the rākṣasa host, likened to maddened elephants) can be destabilized by a focused, skillful counterforce (arrows, likened to lions). Ethically, it highlights the battlefield reality that power without discipline becomes vulnerable to well-directed prowess.
Sañjaya describes a troop of strong rākṣasas being struck by a volley of arrows. Under the assault they become disordered and distressed, resembling a herd of rutting elephants thrown into panic by attacking lions.